Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Welcome to Explorers Wanted, we are a weekly Numenera actual play podcast. I will be your humble GM Daniel Andrlik with me today is Alex Finn. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I just told everybody I would lean closer, but this is not the mic set up that I can just ASMR into the mic. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Sampson Davis. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Fun fact, as long as you're using a Microsoft Sam to say it, you can attribute nearly anything to Stephen Hawking. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: And Stace Babcock. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I'm three mango tango Margaritas in, and I'm really focused on that fact, and trying to speak clearly. So I think I'm nailing it, although margarita was surprisingly hard to say. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Ma'am, can you say the alphabet backwards please? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yeah. Z, Y, X- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Also, touch your nose. That's it. Stace Babcock [Nix]: V, U, T, S, P- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: What happened to W? Stace Babcock [Nix]: I don't know fucking no. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Oh, my God. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh, this is amazing. I'm happy I remembered W myself, even though I'm not drunk. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Buckle up listeners, it's going to be a weird one. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I'm never weird. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I hope you didn't like these characters? We're going to dunk them off a cliff. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Remember, Nix? Good because I don't. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Speaking of remembering, who remembers what happened last time? Stace Babcock [Nix]: I swear to God Daniel. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Yes. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Nice one, yeah. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Last time on Explorers Wanted, we left Mountain's Bone with our dick head of a supervisor, and headed out into the wilderness to find the ruins. Of course, we talked shit about our supervisor. Not realizing he was right outside the door, and could hear said shit, which I feel like is classic. It's really kind of like the American experience, so we did that. We headed out and it was like a really grueling journey. And Race was all like, "I don't want to tell you guys, because you have a contractor here." And I was like, "Let's just blind/deafen our contractor." And they were like, "Maybe not in the woods." So we didn't. Stace Babcock [Nix]: And we got to camping, which was when the exposition was supposed to happen. But instead of exposition, we got a fucking monster, like a hippo with tentacles. That's what I imagined. Sorry guys, it's true. So a hippo with tentacles, snatches Dili, while Nix is on watch, and so Nix goes after Dili. And the fight really was mostly scaring the hippo away, but Dili and Cha-Cha had some really nice illusion and distraction work. So Dili... was it Wolves Sampson? Sampson Davis [Dili]: No six legged, giant, green tigers. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Six legged, giant, green tigers. He made illusions of six legged, giant, green tigers, while the Cha-Cha flashed fireworks in the creature's face. Nix did a little damage. That fucking guy, Vlad did some other damage, and we scared the quiet yet massive creature away. So then we went to the ruins, we got into the ruins and a new era of professionalism infected our crew, taking notes, writing on the outside of doors what's inside of different rooms. None of which I remember guys, and then we ended there. No, there was a cave in. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Caused by Cha-Cha. Stace Babcock [Nix]: There was like this pillar, and if you put a cipher inside, reenergized the cipher. So Dili put a cipher inside and reenergized the cipher. That was cool. And then Cha-Cha was like, what if I put this crystal that's holding my demon consort Bastian inside of this pillar, and Bastian escaped from the gem that Cha-Cha put inside, and caved in the room somehow. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: It was a supporting pillar. It was actually, structurally, needed. Stace Babcock [Nix]: It was a- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah, load-bearing. Stace Babcock [Nix]: ... load-bearing. It was a structurally... Yeah. Okay. It was a load bearing pillar and Bastian freaked the fuck out and knocked it down, so that knocked the room down. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh no, Cha-Cha freaked the fuck out and knocked it down. Stace Babcock [Nix]: No. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Cha-Cha freaked out and knocked it the fuck down, holy shit. Damn, this is a good podcast. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Because Bastian got trapped inside it. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Cha-Cha was freeing Bastian, no shit. Okay. Sampson Davis [Dili]: It happened. That's what happened. Stace Babcock [Nix]: That's what happened. So yeah, Nix saved Race from the ceiling cave in, and they ventured further into the ruins. That's not where we ended the episode, but guys I need help. I'm not going to lie to you. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Dili fell down a chute, fell down the little hole. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Dili fell down the hole, and the Nix was like, "This hole ain't real, and she smashed it in with her Bionicle leg, and everyone slide- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh, yeah. Stace Babcock [Nix]: ... down. Nix tried to reason with some sort of tentacle creature, it didn't work out well. Dili was being dragged away by other tentacle creatures. And then- Sampson Davis [Dili]: And then Dili kind of went supernova. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Right. The automaton was like, "Dad, I can do this. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh, yeah. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Put me in coach. I can play center field." Yeah, fucked those tentacle creatures up. That's where we ended the episode. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I'm now imagining Nix with a Bionicle, because that's what you said. So just- Stace Babcock [Nix]: TM- Sampson Davis [Dili]: ... red toe up Bionicle leg. I was really into Bionicles. That's why it's stuck in my head. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. That'd be amazing. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I felt like Bionicles were a flawed bastardization of Legos. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: They were. And those little like weird stick like connects. Stace Babcock [Nix]: K'Nex? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Maybe. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Well Bionicles were part of- Stace Babcock [Nix]: Tinkertoys? Sampson Davis [Dili]: ... Technic, which was a Lego thing. K'Nex was its own thing. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yeah. K'Nex, you can make ferris wheels out of, that was dope. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. That was amazing. And if you like had a really bougie parents, you could get ones that you could put like electronics in and like automate the ferris wheel. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Or garage sale parents. Sampson Davis [Dili]: My parents were those bougie parents, they got me K'Nex robot thing. And I could like make my own robot with K'Nex, and it was fucking rad. Stace Babcock [Nix]: That is fucking rad. But also Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs, don't underestimate them. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: So, anyway, you guys are in this cavern. The rest of you have just seen down the hall, while Dili being dragged away, and Dili standing up, and then suddenly everything over there being enveloped in dark shadows. And as the shadows disappear, these dudes, their bodies were smashed against the walls, and there were these little tentacles coming out of the hood and digging into the earth and floor, leaving their clothes behind. And Dili has just fallen to his knees over there. What did y'all do? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Holy shit. Sampson Davis [Dili]: That wasn't me. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yo, Dili. Sampson Davis [Dili]: That wasn't me. That wasn't me. I swear. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Dili, your hands are covered with this green goo and a little bit of one of those like tentacle bits. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Dili starts rubbing it on the ground trying to get it off. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I mean, this is you pulling your weight Dili, come on. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yo. That shit was fucking fire. Where have you been hiding that Dili? Sampson Davis [Dili]: That wasn't me. That was the automaton, that was Astor. That wasn't- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I'm sorry you had an out-of-body experience and murdered so well. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Astor took you over dude. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: You're welcome. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Don't tell my you're welcome Astor, that was not cool. Nix and Cha-Cha probably could have handled it. Stace Babcock [Nix]: All right, yeah. It was like way cooler when you got the kills Dili, less cool when the automaton gets the kills. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I'm not DPS, I'm support. This is not the weight I pull. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: But you're [inaudible 00:08:45] class, right? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Guys like learn the system, because like that's not what we do here. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Yes. Team dynamic, it's not just one man or woman, because Nix usually is the one woman who's- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I mean- Sampson Davis [Dili]: ... doing all the damage. This is going to be a lot to process. My body just got taken over without my consent. So- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Fair. Fair. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Cool. Cool, cool, cool. Not cool, actually. Anyway, what were we doing? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Exploring. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: We were exploring and then you got kidnapped. Yes, that was what we were doing. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Cool. And Dili's picked himself up and he's shaking a little bit. So let's get on with this. Let's- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Do you need a little quick cleanup? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Vlad comes over and hands Dili what looks to be a small flask. Take a sip, it'll help. Sampson Davis [Dili]: What is it? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It'll help. Sampson Davis [Dili]: No, I got to know. And then Dili just kind of like looks at Cha-Cha for a second. I need to know. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It's Vodka, Dili. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Awesome. Dili takes swig. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Vlad takes back the flask, caps it, and says, don't know how you did that. And there's a lot going on here that we probably need to talk about more, but we are in the midst of some ruins. So we should probably try to continue making our way. We've already had one cave in and parts of those things dug into the ground. And I have no idea if they're going somewhere to warn somebody else. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh, question? Wait, let me just double check. I can do this. Or if I'm misremembering who I'm playing. So Cha-Cha can see through matter up to six inches with her skill, see-through matter. So couldn't she- Stace Babcock [Nix]: Are you serious? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: ... use that- Sampson Davis [Dili]: Slow down. Stace Babcock [Nix]: You've had this? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yes. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Yeah, she can. Stace Babcock [Nix]: You've had this. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yes. This isn't the next tier. This is like where she's been for a while. Stace Babcock [Nix]: This is fucking great. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: So back to my question, can she use this ability to like look for the tunnels of the tentacles to see where they're going? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Yes. You could see six inches of those tunnels. Yes. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Cha-Cha will do that. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. Give me a perception role, your target is going to be 12. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Okay, 19. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. You definitely can see the tunnels going down and then sort of veering off at about the five inch mark kind of following the path of this tunnel. It's not like a right angle turn, it's like a slightly curving turn. So the tunnel does a pass out of your vision. What would you propose is a minor effect? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: What is a good minor effect? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Could you tell other tentacles were like, similarly- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Ooh, if there were other like tentacle tunnels, she could see them. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: There are. Not a lot more, but there are definitely other nearby tentacle tunnels. And there is that one tentacle dude that's like way back behind you guys in the other room that you guys intimidated the fuck out of. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh, yeah. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Just a reminder for Alex, Bastian is kind of doing some scouting around this area. So he's also on the table. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Sampson, you are our rock. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yes, our rock. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I'm not, Dan is, but thank you. Stace Babcock [Nix]: That's true too. That's exactly what our rocks would say. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Then you are our hard place. Daniel's the rock, Sampson's the hard place, and me and Stace in between. I'm sorry. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh, my God. Yes. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I don't know what insight that analogy brings, but I think you're right. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Listen, I am now drinking, so now nothing makes sense. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I hope you're ready to drive this train. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Choo, choo. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: What are you guys doing? You definitely see other tunnels here, critters, but it doesn't seem to be a primary means of movement. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: They tunneled down and went this way and she's going to point in the general direction of where the tentacles are going. And there's some more tunnels that aren't from the experience with Astor. And it's probably not how they like getting around, but in a pinch they'll do it. So they're probably like going to go join up somewhere and stop tunneling. Sampson Davis [Dili]: If we go and try to talk to them, because they seem to intelligent, and if they're living here, should we go talk to them and try to see if we can- Stace Babcock [Nix]: So definitely tried to talk to the last one Dili, and not very responsive. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Okay. Stace Babcock [Nix]: But I think I agree, we should definitely try. They just don't talk back. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Do you think the last one could at least lead us to their leader or something? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh, damn. I didn't even think to ask that Dili. I was totally focused on the fact that you were being hauled away. Yeah, we should go interrogate. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Dili blushes a little bit, and just, yeah, right. Let's go. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: So you guys are going back to the one that you saw before. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yeah. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Yeah. I think so. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: They're still in that room where you came down. They were kind of like pacing is the wrong word, they gave off the impression, they were waiting guys to get far enough away that they could go somewhere else, because there's no other doors here except the one that you went out. And when they see you guys coming back in, they back up to the wall and shoved their bag, but they've been kind of digging through back around. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yo, let me see that bag dude. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It hold up a hand, like stay away. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nah. Because you remember, I could kill you if I wanted to, so just show me the bag dude. Let's not make this a thing. This might be an intimidation. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Give me a social role. It is a 12 start, so that is a six for you. Stace Babcock [Nix]: 16. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: They seem to huddle back a little bit, holding the bag close and then they open it and they reach in, and they pull out, they're holding something by these threads. And then you realize it's a human head. But there's also some like mechanical parts attached to it, and so it seems to be sort of blinking and making a random faces. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Is it like a desiccated human hair or fleshy? Sampson Davis [Dili]: No, it looks fleshy. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Rotted? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: No, no. It looks like maybe... it's not possible to really tell like male or female, kind of androgynous features, but they appear to be like... they have the face of a youngish, maybe like upper teen human with short brown hair. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Just to make it explicit, not a face that any of us recognize including Vlad and Race. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Correct. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Okay. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Legit. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: The world does not revolve around her characters by the way. Stace Babcock [Nix]: All evidence to the contrary, Daniel. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Does it look like the head can talk? Is it that fresh? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Is this a Wild Wild west moment? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: People can give me an understanding Numenera role of 12- Sampson Davis [Dili]: Three levels up. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I haven't an inability of course. Sampson Davis [Dili]: A 14. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Got a 19. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: This is understanding Numenera? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Okay, so I got an 11, so I pass. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Everyone passes and Nix got to 19. All right, the head, this person is not alive. This head is being animated by the Numenera devices that are embedded in it, that's currently triggering muscular reflexes in this tissue. What would you propose as a minor effect Stace? Stace Babcock [Nix]: I have to admit to some level of confusion to what is occurring. Like it's dead, so what is the understanding Numenera doing? Is the mechanical- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: The Numenera, yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It seems to be randomly triggering face changes. It's not tuned correctly, yet. It's just randomly triggering different expressions. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: It's like frogs and electricity. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I would like to know more about maybe who it belonged to or recency. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It doesn't look like that equipment is doing anything to sustain the tissue. It's possible that the head has been treated in some other way, but you would suspect this is relatively fresh. There are things that the, not sustaining the tissues, probably, an incorrect way of putting it, but there's no intention to keep life here. It's just keeping it from rotting away. You suspect this head was probably actually alive, probably like two days ago. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yo, where did you get this head? It's not that dead, tentacle person. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: They shake their head. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yo, come on, who. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It holds up a hand to its mouth, like, they're trying to indicate that it can't speak, at least not what you speak. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix will pull out her journal to a fresh page and hold out her writing implement. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: So it will cautiously approach, and it starts writing on the paper. Stace Babcock [Nix]: In a language Nix can understand? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: When you turn back to look at it, and you see that it is somehow with your writing implement, even though it's 2D they have managed to create a 3D geometric shape, that looks like it's sticking up from the paper, even though it's not. They drew it on a two dimensional plane, but your mind instantly interprets it is three dimensional characters. It's not a language you recognize. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yo, Dili. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Hey. Stace Babcock [Nix]: What is this shit? Sampson Davis [Dili]: Dili will look at it. Try to understand it. Dili's a little drunk right now, I guess. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: That's like a 30. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Yeah. Sampson Davis [Dili]: This would be a beautiful tattoo, but I have no idea what he's saying. Dili, will turn to the entity. Take us to your leader. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It takes a step back and shakes its head a little bit. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Is this where Cha-Cha mind reads? Sampson Davis [Dili]: Ooh. Please take us to your leader or the Nix, this one, and Dili points to Nix, she'll tell you to, please. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix looks strong. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Dili, this will be a three. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I have a free level of intellect effort. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: There you go. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Is that right? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: This is a creature looks at you all and then puts the head back in the bag, twists the bag around, and they motion for you guys to get out of the way so they can go through the door. Sampson Davis [Dili]: We get out of the way. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So they start walking down the hallway. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Okay, just follow, yeah. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Follow them. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I think so. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: So you guys are going down the hallway, the rest of you, it's pretty dark here, and glow globes don't extend that far. But Dili you can see pretty far ahead, this tunnel and quite clarity, and you can see that up ahead, it is coming to a intersection. So it becomes like a four way intersection, essentially. You can see that that's coming up ahead, and it's at that moment that you notice that there is three figures hanging out down by that intersection. So you guys are now a long distance away. Once the rest of the crew is within a short distance, they would be able to see them, but Dili sees them now. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Dili will quietly whisper, hey, three guys, up ahead at an intersection. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I guess, Cha-Cha readies the pew-pew, just like hands on the trigger in her pocket. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix blows on her knuckles. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay, so you guys are just, essentially, readying yourselves? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yeah. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yep. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. You get to within a short distance of the intersection, and as you get within that short distance, Dili, you can see those other figures stepping to the side, out of where the light would shine. Of course, your guide is still leading the way. So the rest of you just see the intersection ahead, you don't see the three guys. But Dili, you know exactly where the three guys went. Sampson Davis [Dili]: If they're in a short distance, I think Dili will just put like tiny red lights right above where he saw the three guys disappear from. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. That's definitely going to trigger some sort of reaction. So your friend that's been leading into you sees those and he comes to a halt and Vlad looks around and Race. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Don't fuck it up, Race. Race, panics. Stace Babcock [Nix]: No Race, come on. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Race, reaches into his pouch- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh, God. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: ... and throws something. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix is going to try to catch that shit. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Goddamnit. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So if you want to catch it, it will be a- Stace Babcock [Nix]: Or block it like a WNBA block, like right before the basket. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay, so that'd be a nine speed roll. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Did we rest? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Before we got to the caves, but like- Sampson Davis [Dili]: Yeah. It took a week for us to travel and the MelCat, that was the creature that attacked us, was like three days before we got to the ruins. Stace Babcock [Nix]: 17. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. You can anticipate, you can either knock it down or you think you could probably grab it. You can do either way. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Does it seem like something's on a timer, Daniel? I think would be the key piece of information there. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: I don't think you can know that from something him just pulling out of the bag and throwing it. I don't think that's realistic. Stace Babcock [Nix]: So Nix will try to slam it back away from everybody, like a block style, as far as possible, backwards. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So it hits your hand and detonates Stace Babcock [Nix]: Fuck. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh, fuck. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Everybody make me a might defense role of 15. Sampson Davis [Dili]: [crosstalk 00:23:05]- Stace Babcock [Nix]: Ooh, 14, but that works, because I've got free level of effort. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I'm just going to try it straight. Natural 20 for Dili. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Damn, shit. Dili's having a- Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Wow. Stace Babcock [Nix]: ... moment here in these tunnels. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Nice. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Shit. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: What did Cha-Cha get? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: 16. I don't remember the target. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So Nix and Cha-Cha will take two might damage as electricity burst from this detonating cipher. Dili, what would you like for a major effect? Sampson Davis [Dili]: Major effect? I want it to be more story-based, I want Aster to take over Dili's body again and react fast enough that Dili is out of harm's way. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Ooh. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Nice. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So yeah, Dili, you see, there's this moment where Nix is jumping up, and it's odd, time seems to almost slow for a moment, and you just hear Astor clicking their tongue, almost, a very human sound. And the next thing you know, it's like, you can't even... you see what's happening, but you don't necessarily understand like anything else. All of a sudden there is this perspective change, as you leap back just out of the radius of this electricity. And then you see Astor's gaze look down and zero in on Race and you begin running towards Race. Would you like to stop, try to reassert control? Sampson Davis [Dili]: Dili would like to try. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. It sounds like someone's going to die, if you don't. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So because you're coming off of a natural 20, let's make it a nine intellectual. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Okay. Two levels of efforts onto that one. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: That's three. Sampson Davis [Dili]: 16. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. You manage to get control and stop within like a foot of Race. You stop yourself within a foot of race with your hand coming up as if to grab his throat. From everybody else's perspective, by the way, admittedly, you were a little distracted by getting somewhat electrocuted. But one thing I would say that Cha-Cha and Nix did see is that Dili moved way faster than he should have, and it seemed to be charging towards Race. And then just suddenly stopped. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Dili, when he regains control again, not looking at Race, but I guess still acing his general direction, just says, stop doing that. And then like turns away, and then goes back towards the intersection, I guess. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Yeah. Tentacle boys are running at you guys now, so everybody's going to role in [crosstalk 00:25:52]- Stace Babcock [Nix]: No. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Dili's trying to steal my brand. I'm the weird one. I'm the hot head. Come on, Dili. Stace Babcock [Nix]: 16. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Come on. Sampson Davis [Dili]: It's not me. Nine. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: 18. Stace Babcock [Nix]: How many tentacle boys? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: And are they a swarm? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Counting your friend, it'll be four. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: He's a- Stace Babcock [Nix]: You build relationships, and- Daniel Andrlik [GM]: So in this case, Cha-Cha will go first. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Can I try and deescalate? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Wow. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Cha-Cha deescalating. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I know. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Wait. Sampson Davis [Dili]: What? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I know. I know. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So deescalating, this is a combat situation, so this is going to be a 15 social role. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: And I mean, this isn't even the character built for deescalation, weird. I'm going to use a level of effort. It would be nice if we once in a while deescalated things. Not everything has to be dead. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I don't know. I don't know. I don't know, what's happening? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Me either. So I'm like, maybe, let's give them a random- Stace Babcock [Nix]: All right. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: ... deescalation. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Give them a chance. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: 18, again. Sweet. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: So how are you trying to deescalate the situation? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Well, since Dili's trying to steal the hot headed role of the group, I think Cha-Cha just puts their hands out and says, okay, so that was an accident, that we're going to make him pay for. Later, after we all settled down, we can all go around and punch him two times. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Wait, who are we punching? It's not me, is it? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: No Race, who threw the grenade. He fucked up, so we all get to punch him twice. That seems like a reasonable solution to this problem. Teach him to not be so trigger happy, when he can't back that shit up. Stace Babcock [Nix]: What if we just like punch nobody two times, Cha-Cha? Do you think you can swing that? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Dude, it's like, he already punched me once though with the grenade. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I mean, like that was a weak ass grenade Cha-Cha, right? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. But he still threw it when he was behind us. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I mean, in fairness though, I knocked it down. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: What would have happened if it hit squishy Dili? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Sunburn, I don't know. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I think we've seen what happens. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: This is not the time or place to do emergency surgery. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Right. What do you guys think? And Dili turns to the tentacle monster who's chasing us right before I assume they slap him. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Well, Cha-Cha gave them pause, and she did succeed on her deescalation. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: They're thinking about it, that sweet, sweet punch. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: I mean, to be clear that wasn't like they're going to be cooperative now, it just gave them a little bit of confusion. Next step is actually Vlad, and Vlad waits, and then it goes to Nix. These guys are... initiative wise, they can't believe, answer Dili's question, yet. Stace Babcock [Nix]: So how many are within arm's reach of Nix? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: For Nix, all of them, because you have fleet of foot. Stace Babcock [Nix]: But like a casual clotheslining type situation. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: You would have to use fleet of foot, they're all short distance. Well, except your friend, your friend is probably within immediate distance. Stace Babcock [Nix]: If she stuck out both arms and tried to close line. How many could she get? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Oh, like, just running down the tunnel? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yeah. A short distance, clothesline. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Do you have like a multi-type- Stace Babcock [Nix]: No. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: ... thing? You'll probably get one of them. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Okay. The one nearest, she's going to clothesline the shit out of that guy. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay, so that's a 12. You were trained and unarmed- Stace Babcock [Nix]: 12, so that's a nine. My effort that's six. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Stace Babcock [Nix]: All right, eight. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. Do not like that, how much damage do you do again? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Just on like a casual on unarmed attack, seven, but I would take the effect of knocking them prone instead of the damage, if that was a possibility. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: That would need to be something like an extra factor something, I think. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Okay. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Smack him real hard. He does not like that. Next up are the critters. The one that you just clotheslined is going to try to shoot their tentacles out of their hood and try to grab you. So that'll be a 12, might defense role. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Well, fuck them, first of all. Second of all, I got a damn 20. Jesus. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Jesus. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So you managed to, it tries to wrap these tentacles around you, but you pull free. What would you propose is a major effect? Stace Babcock [Nix]: I would like to get this tentacle creature right around the neck and be like, yo, settle the fuck down and settle your boys down. I'm not in the killing mood, but I will. You get me? We're trying to talk. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. The other three seem to be standing there very still, and anybody who wants to can make a- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yes. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: ... 12 exception role. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I like how you said, yes, Alex, before you knew what it was. 17. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Four. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Shit. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I like rolling for rolling. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Starbuck's sitting on my dice tray, so I'm having to go off dice tray, and I feel like this is like an omen or a portent. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Ooh. That your dice is cursed? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh, shit that would be bad. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: But Starbuck is cleansing the curse, with her butthole. I got an 11. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Dili got a four. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So Nix, you notice that one of the buddies in back has his hand in his pocket, and is, currently, fiddling with something. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Eew. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Hands-off the tentacle dude. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: The guy that you are currently holding nods, shortly. Stace Babcock [Nix]: And Nix will say, yo, tell your boy to stop doing whatever he's doing with his pocket. It's like freaking me out. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It's now Dili's turn. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Dili is also going to hold his action until this turns sour, and he's going to prepare to throw up a distracting illusion. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I thought you were just going to prepare to throw up, and I was like, that makes sense. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: So it's now Race's turn. Stace Babcock [Nix]: That fucking guy. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Fuck, Race shouts. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I forgot about Race. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Are you guys crazy? These things are going to kill us. And he sends a blast of dark energy towards one of the other figures. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: This is why we all get to punch him. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix is going to take that. Shit, is it the same round? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It's the same round. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Fuck. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: And he misses. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Okay. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh, thank God. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: And it strikes the wall. But they immediately jump back into an angry, ready stance. And now we're back to Cha-Cha. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Cha-Cha's going to kick Race in the knee. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Good. Good. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So that'll be a nine might role. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Do I want to put effort into this? No, I'm going to say my pulls, because I feel like this is going to go south real fast. Okay. I got a 10. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So you kick Race in the shin, he was like, Ow! Goddamnit. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: When you're squishy, you don't fight, unless you have to. I thought you guys were also like not supposed to be jerks to everybody. That's also my thing, so please, also, stay off my branding. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Vlad turns back towards Race and pushes him off to the side, trying to get him to fucking relax, essentially. But he's worriedly looking over his shoulder at everything else going on. And now it's Nix's turn. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I assume Nix still has this yahoo by the throat, because that was her major effect. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Yes. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Okay. She'd be like, yo listen, apologies for my compatriot. He's kind of a fucking idiot and also sort of scared. But we don't really want to fight you. We want to figure out what's going on here. And if you are peaceful, well-meaning people who just inhabit these ruins, we're cool. You know what I'm saying? If you're going to try to kill us, though, just be open about it now, because we'll try to kill you and we will get this resolved in an efficient manner. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So give me a social role of 12. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I'm going to spend effort, intellect effort, even though it hurts 16. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So the one that you're holding holds up their hands, like, wait, wait, don't hurt me. The other three, behind, look at each other. And the one that was feeling in his pocket pulls something out and drops it. And this wall of light appears crossing the tunnel between you and them. It's somewhat translucent, so you can see them scattering back down the tunnel. You've just got the one that you're holding on to. And they begin screeching in this strange, like hissing cry and the tentacles start pouring out of the clothes over your arm and down in the ground and digging into the Earth, until you're just holding an empty set of clothes. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Are they good clothes? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Can we let loot their former? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Yeah, they're decent. I mean, they're nothing fancy. They're sort of standard wear, not necessarily for rough environments. This more like somebody who stayed in a town wore. But presumably, maybe this individual never left, if individual's the right word for it. Maybe they never left the ruins, maybe they just stayed around down here. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Okay. So what's the shirt/jacket/cloak situation? Because no offense to Cha-Cha, as much as I love the idea of like a full leather fringe outfit, I am interested in replacing the top. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Legit. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It's a standard shirt. It's got a little bit of padding. It doesn't have any like functional armor or anything like that. But it's designed for different environments. The focus seems to have been to cover everywhere where normally skin would be exposed, so there are gloves. There are pants that go all the way down. There are decent boots, not traveler level boots, but decent boats, and I hooded cloak. Stace Babcock [Nix]: So next to like the shirt, the cloak and the left boot, any of these shins are ciphers. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Role me [3D6 00:36:41]. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Ooh. I feel like I'm playing a rogue 3, 5, 5. Sampson Davis [Dili]: 13. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Thank you. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Probably, 13 shins on the [crosstalk 00:36:50]- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Hell ya. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh, sweet. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: And a small, strange square that seems to be made of [synth 00:36:57]. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Nix wasn't hold the same guy who was our pathfinder or our guide, right? So there's no bag with a head in it, right? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Yes. He does have the bag with the head in it. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix will take off her leather fringe top, replace it with a shirt. She flexes as she does so. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Cha-Cha's taking that material though. Stace Babcock [Nix]: What material? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: For the next romper. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: A leather romper. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Because like leather fringed romper, yeah. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix, very studiously separates the 13 shins into three piles and gives the slightly larger pile to Cha-Cha, and a slightly smaller pile to Dili, and one to herself. So everyone gets, what? What is that, four, four- Sampson Davis [Dili]: Four, four, and five. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Like I said, there's still that head. And then there's this other like square of synth. Stace Babcock [Nix]: The head stayed, the tentacle head? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: No, the head that they had, the human head. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh, Nix hands the head to Cha-Cha, and pockets the square. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I guess. Yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: The head is continually making weird faces. Do you want to try to figure out what the square is? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Actually, yeah. Now, I think about it, Nix would definitely hand the square to Dili. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Okay. I assume since we've been cut off. Actually, while Nix is doing her thing, Dili is going to check to see that that wall that the creature's put up is solid. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It's solid. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Okay. Yeah. I'll take a look at this cube. Also, Race, what the fuck. What the fuck? And Dili's going to look at the cube. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: And Vlad has currently got Race over in a section, and you can't hear what he's saying, but he's clearly chewing him out under his breath, and Race just looks miserable. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: The whole parent, we're in a crowded area, but I do need to tell you what you've done wrong, chewing out? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Alex Finn [ChaCha]: And everyone else is just awkwardly trying not to look? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Yeah. So looking at this, it's a nine. Sampson Davis [Dili]: A nine, all right. A fuel of effort, 14. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. This is definitely a key for opening an associated container device. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Okay. Not a cipher though. I can say that. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: No, it's not a cipher. Yeah, it only has this one use. So it's not like a cool artifact or anything like that, but- Sampson Davis [Dili]: Yeah, that was mostly just mechanics, and not a cipher. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Sampson Davis [Dili]: Dili will pull it to Nix, I think it's a key to something. But this is a key to something I assume we're going to find on the other side of this fucking wall. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Awesome, shit. Yeah. That's cool. Onward then or Cha-Cha, what about that head? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I mean, Dili, do you want to try and salvage the Numenera, and then we ditch the head? Or do we keep the head in case we run into more people and just show them this head? Sampson Davis [Dili]: I feel like we shouldn't salvage it right here, because, yeah, I don't know, maybe that's just like a hobbyist's art project that they have or it's some important thing to them. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yo, it makes me think, maybe other explorers were down here like two days ago. So maybe we keep the head and we keep an eye out for the explorers. Sampson Davis [Dili]: That's true. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Although, this one probably isn't going to need it's head back. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Right. Yeah. Totally dead. Sampson Davis [Dili]: No, yeah. Stace Babcock [Nix]: It seems likely. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Cha-Cha, can you talk to it? It seems like your thing. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I guess Cha-Cha is going to try and mind read a decapitated head. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Oh, shit. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. Cool, but a cool sentence. Violence, please, make an intellect role of nine. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nope. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: 14. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: You feel like it is utterly silent, and even though your mind reading is just surface level, it's almost like a weird gravitational pull, and you just barely managed to pull yourself out of sinking into this darkness inside the head. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh, okay. So there is nothing, nothing happening in there, but should you try and go in there, you will probably never come back out. Stace Babcock [Nix]: So is it dead Cha-Cha? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It sticks out its tongue, and then the tongue is very swollen and purple and then it brings the tongue back in and shuts its mouth. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: See. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Gross. Do you know what the pieces of Numenera are doing? Is it just activating muscles or is it doing something like slightly more than that? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: It's be like that's a you question, not a me question. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Right. Okay. Sure, I can take a look. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I can hold it and then you can examine it, if that makes you feel better. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: I think Nix probably already knows that what the Numenera is doing. It's triggering the muscles automatically, and somehow keeping the flesh from deteriorating, at least for a little while. Because Nix would have gotten that earlier, because she had a, I can't remember if it was a 19 or 20 on understanding Numenera for this. Stace Babcock [Nix]: 19. Yeah. It just seems really random. I don't know why they would want to give it the facsimile of life Cha-Cha, but that seems to be what has happened here. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I mean, imagine if you could do this to a whole body and then you could just take the corpses of your enemies as an army against whoever displeases you. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yo, that sounds rad. I have like a ton of fucking dead enemies, that would be sick. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I know. Think of the psychological warfare you could wage. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I don't know. I feel like the dead should stay dead. Raising the dead, that seems a little icky. I don't know. I'm not a fan of that. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: They're not raising them. They're just reanimating the body they're no longer using like recycling. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Vlad chimes in and says, don't be provincial Dili. I thought you were from the big city. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh, shit. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh, shit. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Served. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: And he walks up the light wall and says anybody got any ideas? How to get through this? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix will kick it with her left leg. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. Nothing happens. Well, I guess you could roll for it. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I thought you were going to say, like, okay, Nix falls on her ass. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Well, how hard is Nix trying to kick? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Think of it like, if it was like thick plexiglass, that is the effort Nix would put into kicking through it. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So give me a 21 might roll. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I got a level of free might effort. I'll spend three more might efforts, because Nix is the hero of her own goddamn story. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: And she's tier four now. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Fuck, two levels of efforts. Wait, what? Can you not do three levels of effort through tier three? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Well, you're already using a free level of effort, right? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh, right, right, right. So two additional... Sorry, three total levels of effort, thank you Daniel. 21, 18- Daniel Andrlik [GM]: So it's 12. Stace Babcock [Nix]: ... 12. Is this an unarmed attack? Oh, Daniel- Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Sure. Stace Babcock [Nix]: ... you're so generous. Okay. 11. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. You hit it hard enough that this light bends a bit like trying to push in, but then bounces back. You realize that if you haven't hit it at the angle you did, it probably would have been like rock solid, and you could have risked your leg. But you were strong enough and you hit it with the right angle. Stace Babcock [Nix]: And it just bent. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It bent and then bounced back as your leg came back. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yeah. Well that was my best kick guys, other options? Sampson Davis [Dili]: Dig under it. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh, shit. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Do we have the tools to tunnel? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Do we care that much? What do we want with these guys? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: To see if they're experimenting on more corpses, I guess? Sampson Davis [Dili]: Yeah. Like you said, they may have other travelers or other explorers who came by, and also- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Remember the last one? Sampson Davis [Dili]: You're holding him, Cha-Cha. Yeah. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: No, no, no. The last time we went on a weird tangent and discovered a captured explore, what happened that time with the bees. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh yeah. That chick, shit. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Stannis. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Stannis she was dope as fuck. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I know we could get another Stannis instead of that guy, and she points to Race. Stace Babcock [Nix]: All right. Yo, Cha-Cha be kind of nice to Race. He's- Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Race lowers his head, there's a little tear coming down his cheek, because he's already feeling bad after Vlad did it, Vlad berated him. And Vlad turns around and says, oh you've met Stannis. Yeah. She's one of my favorites. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh yeah, mine too. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah, well most people look like poo compared to Stannis, to be honest. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yo, fucking bad-ass, right? Would love to train under her, shit, no offense Vlad, well, no, yes, offense meant. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. I'm not sure how to take that. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: It's just saying that we would also trade you for Stannis. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix nods solemnly behind Cha-Cha. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: I'm not surprised. He turns back towards the light wall, examining it. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I guess Cha-Cha is going to go to Race and just give him a pep talk on how to properly do these things. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix will go with her. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Listen, did you come to yell at me too? Because I don't need it right now. I understand. I screwed up, fucked up. I panicked. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: No. It's like, if you're going to attack people, you got to like follow through, you know? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Well, I wasn't expecting... And then he briefly looks at Nix and looks away, and says, somebody tried to bat it back at us. I was trying to stop those guys. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: She's done that to me too. And it was really annoying. So you got to learn how to murder better around Nix. But the big problem is, you can't throw explosives when you're behind all of everybody. You need to be like closer to the front, when you throw the explosive. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Oh, I thought it would make it. I wasn't expecting her to block it, but, yeah, that's a good point. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yo, dude... Cha-Cha, do you mind? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Go for it. Stace Babcock [Nix]: All right. Just one thing, like if I'm trying to... I'm your shield, right? I'm going to go in the front and I'm going to stand between you and the baddies, that's my thing, love to do it. If I'm doing that, I would appreciate it if you gave me just a chance to handle some shit. Let me throw the first punch or whatever. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: You'd really do that for me. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Fuck yeah dude, you're on the team. I do that for everybody. I do it for Dili. I do it for Cha-Cha. I'd do it for you. I'd even fucking do it for Vlad, but I'd be kind of pissed about it. You know what I'm saying? But I'd do it. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: That's refreshing. That didn't happen the last time I went down somewhere with a team. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: You also have to get better at taking shit. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: I did my time. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: No, no. No. I mean, if we're kind of mean to you, it means we're acknowledging you exist and we don't want you to die. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: I appreciate that. Does anybody want to give me a social role of six? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yeah. Because that's a give me for old Nix. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Fine. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I'll role anyway. Five. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Nine. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So you both realize that Race is holding something back, not as a lie, it's just something very painful to talk about. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Dude, whenever you want to tell your fucking story, I'll listen. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Once again with your stuff, it's like a freebie. He says, listen, I told you the truth, when I was down in [adelve 00:48:52] last time, I was the only one to get out. But that doesn't mean my group didn't turn on me, and I was captured, and I was experimented and it took me... time was difficult, I didn't understand how much time had passed while I was there. But once I got out, I had spent two months down there before I managed to escape. Stace Babcock [Nix]: These fucking so-called compatriots still alive dude? Did they get out? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: No, they died. They didn't make it much farther. And they didn't get captured. Stace Babcock [Nix]: They sacrificed you? Or was it happenstance? I don't understand. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: They had me be bait, and I thought it was for a trap, but they were just using me as a distraction, so they could make their run for it. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yo, those are some straight up motherfuckers. I'm not going to lie to you. That's not something that we do here, though. We go back, if we can. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: We go back period, because usually we're kind of in the all or nothing camp where it's just like, if we're going down, we're burning this entire complex down too. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yeah. We'll burn a motherfucker down. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: We exploded a couple of city blocks for people. Stace Babcock [Nix]: One time. Twice. Yeah. Twice. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah, three times. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Was it three? Oh my Cha, wasn't three? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Well, remember your parents? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh shit. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: There was an explosion there too. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yeah. Yeah. Call it three times. We'll fucking do that shit, you're on our team. You know what I'm saying? You're with us. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: All right. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: But also get a dagger for your next team, and if they try that shit, just right here. And she's pointing to right... you know that crease? Sampson Davis [Dili]: Right where Dili's scare is. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I was going to go for like the big old vein in your thigh, but that too. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yeah. We kill for each other. We die for... well, we haven't died yet. Not us, but we would. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah, no one's died yet. Stace Babcock [Nix]: We commit major surgery on each other. It's a whole package. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: We mutate each other. Sharing is caring. Although we're trying to not mutate each other as much, we're learning. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Vlad calls up from the front, is like, are you guys done with the grab ass and the touchy feely back there? Stace Babcock [Nix]: No, we're not done... holy shit, Vlad, shit, have you heard of team building dude? Fuck. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Is this sexual harassment in the workplace? I've heard about it. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: And as he's saying that he moves his hand out and twist in the air and the light disappears. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I hate that that was cool. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I imagine Dili has been digging at the bottom of the wall with just one of his tools. Just like, all right. I think we can... oh, okay. You can just do that. Cool. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Yeah. Like digging with the driver. And Vlad looks at Dili, she's like, I appreciate the effort and focus, Dili. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Just tell me though, just tell me next time. All right. Don't have to ruin one of my nice screwdrivers, fuck. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix will charge in that direction, as soon as she realizes it is down. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So then you reach the intersection. You can go to the right, the left or straight ahead. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Where are the baddies? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: They split up, so one went in each direction. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Oh, so she'll stop at the termination of the current hallway, prior to the intersection, and stand there in a defensive posture. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. You don't see anything? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yo, do we want to chase guys? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I mean, I think we have to. This is where we're supposed to be saving people. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I think if we find whoever's in charge of these guys, then I think we might find somebody who knows what this facility is and what's all inside of it. So I think it's probably a good idea to chase these guys down. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix chases to the right, as is tradition. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So you guys start going down the right. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Is there a way we can mark this path? Sampson Davis [Dili]: Well, no, our marker just ran up ahead. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Well, we could just put a little score in the corner that we just are turning around, because I'm worried we're going to get lost. Because we were doing good with the marking and now we're not marking. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Dili will take out a screwdriver again and carve a little mark in the wall. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. So do you want to do it in the Earth or in the walls? The walls are rock. The ground is Earth. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Cha-Cha, you can blast things apart with your mind, right? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: No, I did it with my fists. Sampson Davis [Dili]: No, I know that, but can't you onslaught? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I mean, yeah, but what if we do hit the column again? Sampson Davis [Dili]: Can you low power? Can you do a low power version, just enough to like put a hole in the wall, small hole? Daniel Andrlik [GM]: At this moment, Bastian walks through a wall up ahead. Cha-Cha, obviously, no one else can see Bastian. And he says, this place is a mess, Cha-Cha. There's all sorts of stuff through this place. It took me forever to find you guys, again. I got totally turned around. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: That's why we're trying to mark it as we're going. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Yeah. They definitely noticed me at one point. There was some lab that had some sort of detection device and it seemed to light up when I came in there. But I don't think they saw me, saw me, but I got back here as quickly as I could. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Which way is the lab? Because I think we need to go there, because we found this. And she like holds up the head. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Oh wow. Well that's cool. Is it okay if I have that after this? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I think Dili wants the Numenera, but you could have the head. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. Well, do you think he's going to get the Numenera out of it relatively soon? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. As soon as we probably finish off that lab. Yeah, we'll be done with it. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Cool. Cool. I am hungry. Okay. So it's this way. And he starts walking down the hallway towards where Nix is. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh, good. Okay. We're going the right direction, everybody lab this way. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Hold on, Cha-Cha, did your friend come back or what was that? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah, he came back. He found a lab and they have some interesting stuff that Dili will like. Nix is going the right way, but he has dibs on the actual head. You can have Numenera, he's hungry. So we should hurry up. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Is it a problem, if he gets too hungry? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I mean, that's how we got rid of all those guards in the sewer. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Oh, hey, I didn't eat them. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Well, okay, not eat, but you did some pretty good damage with the mouth. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They won't be seeing anybody else again. Stace Babcock [Nix]: You, what about them dead tentacle things, Cha-Cha? Does your friend want to eat them? They're back there. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: So Bastian you can eat that. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: He can hear a Nix, of course. And he says, I do like snakes. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix can't hear that, and thank goodness. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Cha-Cha's going to ignore that. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: When he says that he does look at Nix for a while. Stace Babcock [Nix]: That little fucker. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Anyway, I'm not happy I'm here, but I'm happy we get to play together, Cha-Cha. So we just go this way, and we should reach the lab. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: And, yeah, knowing how the world works, there will be more bodies. Sampson Davis [Dili]: What? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Nix, just shrugs, she's like, yeah, it's true. There will always be more bodies. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. To the lab. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: That's the way of the world father. [crosstalk 00:56:59] Dili. And you see once again, coming over your vision, that threat assessment percentage over our Nix, the question mark threat assessment over Cha-Cha, and you see it blinking at a small space, maybe four feet tall in front of Cha-Cha that looks empty, but there's just an indicator there that your brain translates immediately as anomaly detected. And that's where we'll end this episode. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Nice. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Wait, it's the end of the episode already, shit. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I know how drunk are we? Stace Babcock [Nix]: We're not. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Sure. Sure, Jan. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I am. I absolutely am. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yeah. I'm intoxicated and have been this whole time. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Really? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Shut up Daniel. Oh, wait, I'm sorry. Yeah, really. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: So, Stace, something about this episode? Stace Babcock [Nix]: Loved the interaction with Race/Vlad, the rah-rah, we're a team talk. Loved Cha-Cha's sudden restraint and interest in diplomacy. I think that's an interesting character development. Yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Character growth. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: You've been telling her to respect the people, and- Stace Babcock [Nix]: What even makes it more interesting is, Stace's, my personal suspicion that it is futile. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Oh, true. Stace Babcock [Nix]: So I like that. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Very cool. Very cool. So we have a segment that we do each week call player intrusions. That's where we offer you the listener, an XP to check out something that we think you would really dig. This week, it is Stace's turn. Stace, what would you offer our listeners in the XP to check out. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I want our listeners to check out, Leverage, the TV show, which is- Sampson Davis [Dili]: Oh. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yes. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Nice. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Which is a- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I loved that show. Stace Babcock [Nix]: It's amazing. It's available on IMDb TV, which I believe is perfectly free. I mean, I watched it via the Amazon Prime app. But I think it's free. I think you can get it for free. It is a TV show that features a former insurance investigator for an insurance company that insured like, I guess, they had medical and also incredibly valuable art, which is what he investigated, his name's Nate. And he's the mastermind of a crew that consists of like former grifters and thieves, he investigated and tracked down as insurance investigator for certain prized pieces of art. It is campy. It is over the top. There's a lot of what the fuck going on. If you just accept that they're all kind of like minor superheroes- Sampson Davis [Dili]: I love Parker so much. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I know Parker's so great. So the crew consists of Nate, who is the mastermind, they say, who plans like the ops and runs them. There is Sophie, who is British and a grifter, so she does like the social engineering shit. Hardison, the "hacker," I'm sure that that hacking is just extremely fictional. I can't imagine it's anything but extremely fictional, but he's super interesting and cool. You have Parker, the thief, your typical, you think of like art thief, her character development is amazing. She appears to have no feelings, early on, but then she gets feelings. It's really cool, love Parker. And then Eliot, who I also love, naturally, right? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Stace Babcock [Nix]: He's the hitter, and his specialty is beating people the fuck up. And this like motley crew of thieves, it's campy on purpose, and it is, oh, so good. They just con the rich and the powerful- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: It's beautiful. Stace Babcock [Nix]: ... try to do a little bit of good in the world as thieves, new thieves, former thieves, whatever, they're criminals. So strongly recommend that you check it out, especially since it is free on certain platforms. And the first time I watched it, I watched all the episodes all in a row, and didn't realize when it was ending, and so the last episode came as a surprise. And I was literally devastated for like four days after the final episode. I was like, I can't believe it's over. It's just a fuck ton of fun, so check it out. And a reboot, or maybe it's not a reboot, maybe it's like a sequel series is starting in July featuring a lot of the same characters on IMDb TV. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Did they finished the Librarians then. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Oh, you mean because of Christian Kane? Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. He went from Leverage to the Librarians TV show. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: I feel like that show must have gotten canceled, it wasn't very good. Stace Babcock [Nix]: I watched some of it. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: It was good, campy fun. Stace Babcock [Nix]: The reboot is coming out in July. So before this episode comes out, I think- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Nice. Stace Babcock [Nix]: ... and it features, I think, Sophie is the mastermind and then Hardison is there, Parker is there. I think Eliot's there. I think the only one who's not there is Nate, which like is the eminently replaceable one, although he's so cool and has a tragic character arc. Love that show. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Although. I don't mind not having to hear him do another fake accent. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: His monologue. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Yeah. He was a really super tragic and he's a good character, but he's the least best character, I think. So he's not going to be the reboot, but he was good. The whole show was amazing. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yeah. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Yes. But do you wonder how they're going to replace the whole like Nate and Sophie smoldering- Stace Babcock [Nix]: Right that sexual tension, and relationship tension. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: First of all, I love that show. At some point we have to dissect favorite episodes and things like that. But if people wanted to reach out to us and tell us what they think about Leverage or the podcast, how would they do that, Sampson? Sampson Davis [Dili]: Oh, great place to start would be explorerswanted.fm. From there, they can find all the socials that we have planted our flag on. For example, on Twitter, we are @explorerswanted, on Instagram and Facebook, we are @explorerswantedpodcast. Best place to interact with us directly is probably our Discord, which you can find by going to explorerswanted.fm/discord. And if what we've done here today is worth money in your eyes, you can go to patreon.com/explorerswanted- Daniel Andrlik [GM]: It is. Sampson Davis [Dili]: ... to support us, if it is within your means. If you do that, you can find fun character journals. If you, what's the word, subscribe to like the kind villager tier. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: There's a specific tier where you get character journals, yes. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Yeah. And you can find some little extra stuff that we do, some like deeper characterizations that we have. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: And there's been some bonus stuff in there as well for our patrons. So, for example, our secret of Cats play through, fake core powered system is in our Patreon for anybody you have five dollars or higher, as well as, we even are experimenting with solo RPG, actual plays. So I did a solo RPG play through of Cats and Corpses that's available there. Sampson Davis [Dili]: And again, that's at patreon.com/explorerswanted. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: And honestly, it would mean so much to us if you could support us. If you can't support us on Patreon, honestly, the best thing that you could do for us is to tell a friend and tell them why they should listen to the show and why you like it. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: The second best thing you could do is to leave as a five star review on a podcast directory, specifically, Apple Podcast, Podchaser, and Stitcher. Those make such a huge difference in people trying out the show. There's so many actual plays out there, so anything that kind of helps differentiate us is such a big deal, so that really helps. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: If you didn't like the podcast or you thought it was bad, well, I once saw a groundhog charge threateningly at a car that had the temerity to get in its way while crossing a busy street. The craziest thing, it was a busy street. The car came to a stop, because it didn't want to hit the groundhog. The Groundhog turned around and charged at the vehicle. It's a truly audacious act for creature that size, but, honestly, not an uncommon attitude from the ones that are around here. And while a groundhog cannot truly harm a vehicle, it behooves one to remember that even the small creatures that live near your home are capable of great rage at those who cross them. And for some of those, well, their teeth never stopped growing. If you want to reach out to us individually on social media, you can, you can find me on Twitter @Andrlik, A-N-D-R-L-I-K. Stace Babcock [Nix]: You can talk to me about the heist show Leverage. I'm sure I mentioned it was a heist show, on Twitter @StaceWindu. Sampson Davis [Dili]: I think I owe some squirrels some peanuts. I'm @slampotato. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I'm remembering, I think it's a rat's teeth that never stopped growing, and that's why you have to get them those little wood chews. And, yeah, you can remember your pet rat fondly with me [@realteaunicorn 01:05:59], and [inaudible 01:06:01] unicorn on Twitch. I did have pet rats at one point. Daniel Andrlik [GM]: Okay. That's it for us. Hope you enjoyed the show. We will be back next week as we will for every week in the foreseeable future. Have a good night, day, weekend, or whenever you're listening to this and bye. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Bye. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Bye. Stace Babcock [Nix]: Bye. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Yes, team dynamic. It's not just one man or woman, because Nix usually is the one woman, who's- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I mean- Sampson Davis [Dili]: ... doing all the damage. Stace Babcock [Nix]: The one woman to rule them all, right, Dili. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Sure. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Nix, wouldn't say that, that's me, being drunk. Alex Finn [ChaCha]: I mean, yeah, it is pretty convenient, yeah. Sampson Davis [Dili]: Yeha. That's not Nix. One woman to kick them all. Anyway- Alex Finn [ChaCha]: Yes. I forgot my dice. Stace Babcock [Nix]: ​ Oh, dice, fuck. New Speaker: h, dice, fuck.